For Carrie Reese, owner of M’Dears Bakery and Bistro on Western Avenue in Los Angeles, running a restaurant means wearing every hat.
“I am the owner, the dishwasher, the server, the cook, the creative genius, and everything else involved,” she says.
A local business with a sweet history
For 25 years, M’Dears has served its South Los Angeles community with breakfast favorites, soul food classics, homemade desserts, and a neighborhood atmosphere that keeps customers coming back.
Carrie’s journey began on the festival circuit more than three decades ago. After attending a jazz festival and noticing there was no dessert vendor, she saw an opportunity.
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I had this sweet tooth, so I said, ‘I think they need a dessert vendor.’ That’s how the whole thing got started. ”
Today, M’Dears is known for dishes like wings and waffles, chicken sausage and grits, cobblers, and sweet potato pie. But for Carrie, the heart of the business is the community.
“Our customers love the fact that we are community-oriented,” she says. “We serve the community that we’re located in.”
How Authorize.net makes sure M’Dears gets paid
To help process online payments through its online store, M’Dears has used Authorize.net for 16 years. Carrie uses the tools available from Authorize.net to accept payments when customers call in orders or when she’s away from a credit card terminal.
“When I’m sitting in my office and I don’t have a credit card terminal, I can go to the virtual terminal and process a payment,” she says. “I don’t have to worry about losing that customer.”
That flexibility helps Carrie serve customers in the way that works best for them—online, by phone, or in person.
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It solved a lot of problems when people would call and want to place an order. I can just take the order and not lose that customer. ”
After 25 years, Carrie knows that staying in business means staying connected to the people you serve. With Authorize.net helping her simplify payments, she can focus on what matters most to her business: welcoming customers, serving the community, and keeping M’Dears full of food, music, and heart.
See how Authorize.net can help your business accept payments online, in person, or on the go
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